More than 50% of production acres are phosphorus deficient and require the addition of phosphate fertilizer in order to provide adequate nutrition to crops. However, phosphorus applications are not 100% efficient due to soil conditions, a fact widely understood by retailers and growers alike.

Market research has shown the average American grower believes they only get 60% availability from the phosphate they apply to the crop, acknowledging that 40% is lost to nutrient tie up in the soil. However, under the best soil conditions with ideal pH, organic matter, and CEC only ~20% of P that is applied is available. Considering the 9.4 billion pounds of P applied annually, growers are losing 7.5 billion pounds of P to nutrient tie up.

Phosphorus plays a significant role in capturing and converting the sun’s energy into useful plant compounds. It also is a catalyst for many growth factors within the plant, including:

• Stimulating the development of roots
• Strengthening of the stalk and stem
• Improving seed production and flower formation

• Encouraging earlier crop maturity
• Helping plants achieve more uniform production and consistent quality
• Promoting healthier plants and disease resistance

Phosphorus is needed for plant development throughout the life of the plant, with the most critical period occurring early in the season. Phosphorus deficiency often shows after corn is 24-30 inches tall.

Because phosphorus is highly mobile in plants, it will move to areas where the most energy is required. For example, corn plants will move phosphorus from old plant tissue to young or actively growing areas where high-energy requirements are needed to form seeds and fruit.

If plants aren’t receiving enough phosphorus, they may not display any visible signs until it is too late to correct it. Early in the season corn may show an abnormal purplish color in the stem if not receiving enough phosphorus, although plant genetics influence the degree of the discoloration.

Later in the season if crops haven’t received sufficient phosphorus, both seed development and crop maturity can be affected, as shown by stunted growth and development.

As one of the three essential macronutrients needed for plant growth and development, phosphorus is an essential nutrient to have available for crops to uptake and use.

One way to keep phosphorus in a plant-available state is to prevent it from binding to micronutrients in the soil, using chelates. CHS Agronomy discovered that they could use chelates to overcome the ionic bonds in the soil to free the micronutrients from the phosphorus. The effects of chelation also keep the nutrient application in a plant-useable form. To learn more about chelates, read our blog “Unlocking Phosphorus in the Soil with Chelates.”

CHS Agronomy created a broadcast fertilizer additive, Trivar®, specifically for broadcast phosphorus application. Trivar, powered by the Levesol chelate, safeguards growers’ fertilizer investment by mobilizing phosphorus and other nutrients with three modes of action.

To learn more about how to maximize fertilizer applications with Trivar, download our white paper and contact your retailer or CHS Agronomy representative.